Knowledge in an Uncertain World C (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780199550623)

Knowledge in an Uncertain World is an exploration of the relation between knowledge, reasons, and justification. According to the primary argument of the book, you can rely on what you know in action and belief, because what you know can be a reason you have and you can rely on the reasons you have. If knowledge doesn't allow for a chance of error, then this result is unsurprising. But if knowledge does allow for a chance of error - as seems required if we know much of anything at all - this result entails the denial of a received position in epistemology. Because any chance of error, if the stakes are high enough, can make a difference to what can be relied on, two subjects with the same evidence and generally the same strength of epistemic position for a proposition can differ with respect to whether they are in a position to know.
In defending these points, Fantl and McGrath investigate the ramifications for debates about epistemological externalism and contextualism, the value and importance of knowledge, Wittgensteinian hinge propositions, Bayesianism, and the nature of belief. The book is essential reading for epistemologists, philosophers who work on reasons and rationality, philosophers of language and mind, and decision theorists.

Author: Fantl & McGrath
ISBN-10: 019955062X
ISBN-13: 9780199550623
Publisher: OUP UK
Language: English
Published: 12/20/2009
Pages: 262
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 9.46h x 6.72w x 0.81d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 06/01/2010